The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-19
SALT LAKE TO EUROPE.
Progress of the Excursion
Which Left Here May Both.
SIGHTS BRHELD ON THE WAY.
An Interesting Letter From one "ho
Ac.onpanfed the Ezcursionists
to New York.
To the Editor of THE HERALD.

The excursion to Europe under the
management of Messrs. Rosslter ano
spence. left Salt Lake City on May 3Oth
In two divisions, the one IN which the
writer took his departure going over the
Denver g. Rio Grande Railway, and the
other over the Utah Central and Union
Pacific Railroads. Not being able 10
split myself in two parts, any news from
the other party must come from some
other source than this.
The party, as shall call this division
left Salt Lake about mid day comfort
ably quartered IN a reclining chair
coach which had been devoted to the
uses of The excursionists by the man
ayers of the road. This car is very con-
venient, as the chairs can be tilted back
ward until they are nearly horizontal,
making a tolerably easy bed and one
that was much appreciated by the ladies.
The scenery which is viewed from TINS
road has been described so much and so
often by ADLER pens than this, that 1t Is
almost work of supererogation 10 at
tempt it. The crags and mountain
views which greet the eye In Spanish
Fork Canyon called forth many ex
pressions of admiration from all sides OF
the car; but these scenes became almost
forgotten when the sublime grandeur OF
succeeding ones came into view. The
entrance to Castle Valley through Castle
Gate brought nearly all 10 their feet, for
the road goes between two beetling
crags, which rise precipitOusly on eithei
side of the ravine up which we are 60
ing; the train stopping here, all who
could do so easily, got out to view this
immense gate. Perpendicular ellis
rise Oh each side to a height seemingly
of hundreds of feet, leaving only room
for the river between, and seem ike
mountain which has been suddenly cut
or broken through. As We pass directly
into the gate the scene changes again,
and we find that what we thought was
q mountain on either hand was thin
strip OF rock stuck up apparently on
end, ike a sheet of pastebOard placed
on. its edge. The wonder is that II re
mains in 5 place, for it seems as though
a good would blow it down. We
pass thru h Castle Valley, so called
from the peculiar appearance OF It's nils
and mountains, which rising abruptly
from the plans, look in the distance like
giants castles. This country is COM
plete desert, dry, barren, and full OF
arrOyOs, which make travelling outside
OF the regular trails very dangerous.
This continues until we pass Green
River, and have gone long distance
over that stream. Next morning early
-
extremely steep, and 10 make the ascent
the tram is cut into two sections. six
cars on one, and five on the other; two
engines are hooked on to each section,
and we go up in fine style to the summit
and descend on the other side of the
Divide, arriving at Cimarron, a small
town ON the Gunnison, and the entrance
to the famous Black Canyon. At this
point an observation car is attached to
the train, so that all who desire, and are
not AFRAID of the sparks from the engine,
may get aboard and getan unobstructed
view of this wonderful canyon. 1t has
been well named, the rocks being of a
dark hue, the mountains rising on either
side abruptly and in many places pre-
cipitously from the river bed; OCCASION
ally mountain streams fall over them IN
a sheet of foam to join the river below,
which all the way foams, and bolls, and
rushes past u.s., The scene is grand and
sublime, as the train rushes along now
past this cliff, now round the other, by
| this waterfall, or around this bend; the
road all the time winding along the river
bank and keeping nearly on the same
level. Passing out of this canyon we
leave the river and running up first one
ravine, then another, arrive at the foot
of the last divide, the backbone of the
continent, Marshall's Pass. To make
this ascent the train is again cut in two
sections, and two engines attached to
each section. The grade up this divide
lis very steep, and winds along the sides
| of the mountains. Ascending one
ravine we see the road on the other side
far above US, winding along on the
mountain sides, and the snow sheds
| engines snorting, screaming, and pull
ing, their motion being distinctly felt in
the cars the motion of the cars being
the same as that of a heavily loaded
wagon being drawn up hill by horses,
every tug of the horses being felt; SO
We in the cars feel every tug and jerk OF
! the, engines. We. see the everlasting
snow below as as We ascend and on ar
irving at the summit, stop~in a large
snow shed! some of the folks getting out
to gather snow. After an examination
OF, the engines to see that they are in
! proper shape and ere not strained in
/! the ascent, We commence the descent
which is equally steep and interesting.
| At this point the waters divide, those we
have passed all finding their way to the
Pacific Ocean, while those which we
shall SEE hereafter flow to the Atlantic
On reaching the foot of the Pass the
train is again coupled and we proceed on
our way to shortly find ourselves to the
upper end of the Grand Canyon of the
Arkansas, with another observation cal
attached. This canyon is if possible
the gran0est We have yet seen. The
mountains rise to great height, steep
their sides in number of places being
absolutely perpendicular, and impossi-
bic to be scaled. We follow the course
of the river which in some places occu-
pies all the bottom of the canyon, the
road being built along it over the water
on trestles reaching from rock to rock
| Harofnf0ra have hoon frouaIi1o in n